Automatic radio warning system



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENTOR c/nchso/v @QW H' ATTORNEY Aug. 27, v1963 Filed 001'.. 2, 1961 Aug. 27, 1963 w. JACKSON AUTOMATIC RADIO WARNING SYSTEM A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fileg oct. 2, 1961 95A 5% QM.

. Aug. 27, 1963 w. JACKSON AUTOMATIC RADIO WARNING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 Nmi INVENTOR Wu au@ r/QcmsoA/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,1d2,235 AUTMATIC RADI WARNING SYSTEM n Wilbur `l'ackson, PA). Bor; 286, Chatsworth, Ga. Filed Oct. 2., 1961, Ser. No. 142,119 8 Claims. (Cl. Mdm-163)` This invention relates to an 'automatic alarm system utilizing a radio link to a reception center and, more particularly, a tone signal generator and con-trol system therefor which will produce predetermined sequence of signals and perform certain control functions for a radio transmitter in response -to actuation of one or more sensing devices.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ton signal generator ifor modulating a radio transmitter and a control system which is triggered by a sensing device so as to render functional the radio transmitter, and simultaneously initiate a predeterrnine sequence of identifying tones, the sequence being carried through to completion even though the excitation of the sensing'device be of extremely short duration. For example, if the sensor were a photoelectric device and if it were excited by only a momentary llicker of light, the tone sequencer would be triggered into an operating cycle which would continue through to completion, even though the original cause, i.e., the light llicker, had 'been transistory.

Another object is to provide ya tone signal sequencer which is triggered into an operating cycle by one or more sensing devices, and to provide for the production of an identifiable and dis-tinct sequence of cycles if the excitation of a sensing device continues. Thus, if only one sensing device be used, the central station can determine whether the excitation of the sensing device was 'momentary or whether it is of a continuing characteristic. If more than one sensing device be used in connection with the tone signal sequencer, and if the excitation of any one of the sensors be of continuing characteristic, the central station can identify the particular sensor being excited.

These :and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thev following specification and drawings, in which: i

FIG. l is a simpliiied circuit diagram of a local radio transmit-ter, tone signal modulator, and tone signal sequencer, the active portions ol the circuit in repose being denoted by heavy lines;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram similar to FIG. l, but denoting in heavy ylines the active portions of the circuit in iirst phase immediately following an excitation of the sensing device; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2, but denoting in heavy lines the active portions of the circuit in second phase.

`Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, a radio transmitter I1t) is located in the region of the establishment to be protected or instruments to be monitored, for example, a building to be protected by a tire or burglary alarm system. It will be understood that the signals sent by transmitter will be received and recorded at a central station, and that a number of transmitters 1Q and their associated tone signal sequence controllers may be located at various regions around the central station.

Transmitter lll is modulated by an oscillator 12 preferably connected as at y13, through an ampljier 14 and coupling 15 to the transmitter. In the system disclosed as an example, two different :audible tones F1 and F2 are generated by means of net-works 16 and 18 connected in a feedback loop 2li` between amplier 14 and oscillator 12. Feedback loop 20 alternatively includes a lead 22 running from F1 network 16 to a contact 24 :normally engaged' by the armature 26 of a double throw relay 28, the relay "ice armature being connected, as indicated at Sli, to oscillator 12. An alternative feedback path may be established through F2 network 18 via lead 32, contact 34 fnal F1, and when relay 28 is actuated to another state,

the transmitter is modulated by a signal F2.

On the input side of the system, there are illustrated several leads essential tothe understanding off the system. Transmitter lll is left ready constantly, with its tube heater circuits, if any, closed. It does not go on the air, however, until its plate power is tEurnished Via lead 36, armature 37 and contact 39 when a master relay Sil, detailed below, is energized. The other input leads include a 6 volt A.C. line 318 which, through closed connections not shown, supplies vcurrent to the lheaters of the tubes in the oscillator, amplifier and transmitter, and also through relay connections, detailed below, to the heater 112 of a thermal time delay relay 56. 150 volts D.C. is supplied via a lead 4d and branch 4S to provide plate power to the oscillator and amplifier, and, through other branches, to charge capacitors in relay holding circuits; 5 volts DsC. issupplied by lead 42 to actuate the power relays, and to provide 'voltage to contact 44 of a sensing device 45, the other contact 146 of which is grounded. Various types or sensing devices, respon-sive to heat, light, body capacity, pressure, instrument position or condition, etc. may be used, the signicant characteristic being that whenever a circuit between contacts 44 and 46 is closed, a master relay Sli` is actuated by the 5 volt DC. circuit -92 running from lead 42 through master relay winding 52 and thence to a contact 54 in -a thermostatic relay 56, contact ,54 being normally engaged by a contactor 58 connected to sensor contact 44.

An energizing circuit for winding 52 of master relay 50 may :also be completed to aground lead 60 Via a shunt circuit 62 connected to the contact 64 of a holding relay 66 whose armature 68 normally is disengaged from a contact 64. The winding 70 of holding relay 66 is connected through a '39K resistor 72 to ground, and also via lead 74 to a l0 mf. capacitor 76 which is charged through an armature 73 normally engaging a contact 80 of master relay 50. Contact 80 is connected via lead 8.2 to the volt D C. line 40 so that, during condition of circuit repose, when master relay `50 is not actuated, capacitor 76 becomes charged. Also, in the repose condition of the circuit, a 5 mi. capacitor 84 is charged via lead 86, master relay armature 88 and normally engaged contact 9d connected to lead 82. The active circuits of the system when the latter is in repose are denoted by the heavylines in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, let it be assumed that sensor 45 is excited and a circuit is momentarily closed across contacts 44, 46. Winding 52 is energized by the 5 volt D.C. circuit 42, lead 92, the closed circuit through thermal time delay relay 56, sensor contact 44 and grounded contact 46. vThe sensors exciting iniluence being transitory, relay 50 would ordinarily return immediately to its FIG. l state but for the holding circuit established through holding relay 66. When master relay winding S2 is energized, armature 78 pulls down against contact 94 and a holding circuit to winding 70 is established via lead 96, and maintained until capacitor 76 discharges through resistor 72 and winding 70. While the holding time for this circuit varied in accordance with the values selected for capacitor 76 and resistor 72 and the drop-out point for relay y66, the values selected for this example provide a hold time of approximately two seconds.

Actuation of master relay 50 also closes its armature 37 against contact 39, thereby putting transmitter 10 on values are chosen to provide a hold-closed time of be-v tween 1/2 second to l second.

'While relay 104 holdsl its armature 106 closed against contact 102, a charging circuit is completed from the 150 volt supply line 40 via branch 98 to a 5 mf. capacitor 100, one side of the latter also being connected to ground via lead 110. The function of the charged capacitor 100 will be detailed later in connection with FIG. 3, it being pertinent to note now that while capacitor 84 discharges through holding relay 95, capacitor 100 simultaneously charges.

Reverting to the lower left-hand portions of FIGS. 2 and 3. the heater 112 of thermal time delay relay 56 is connected on one side to ground, and on the other side via a lead 114 to a contact 116 on master relay 50 so that when the latter is energized, it pulls down the armature 118 which is connected to the 6 volt A.C. supply line, thereby starting heat to build up in relay 56.

The length of time required for relay armature 58 to warp away from contact 54 depends upon the characteristics of the particular relay. For the present example, let it be assumed that relay 56 will break the circuit at the end of live seconds of energization of its heater 112. As will subsequently be apparent, thermal time delay relay 56 comes into play only if the sensor contacts remain closedl for a period longer than the opening time of the thermal time delay relay. It is important now to note that during the tone-sequencing operation of the remainder of the relay chain, heater 112 of the thermal time delay relay 56 is energized and building up heat.

After capacitor 84 discharges to ground through winding 95 and resistor 97, relay 104 lets go, thereby returning its armature 106 into contact 126, and completing a closed circuit loop comprising winding 120 of relay 122, lead 124, contact 126, armature 106, lead 108, 5 mf. capacitor 100, lead 110 and the 33K resistor 128. The active circuits for this, the second phase of the cycle, are dis` tinguished by the heavy lines in FIG. 3. Winding 130` of relay 28 is eenrgized during the hold time of relay 120 by the circuit running from the 5 volt D C. line 42 through winding 130, lead 132, relay contact 134, armature 136 to ground through lead 138. When relay 120` closes, and so long as it holds, the feedback loop is shifted from F1 network 16 over to F2 network 18.

Assuming thefhold time for relay 120 to be 1/2 second, the operating cycle following transitory closing of sensor contacts 44, 46 would be as follows.

First second:

Master relay 50 closes, thereby- Placing transmitter on air with F1 modulator Closing 2 second hold circuit of relay `66 Starting time delay cycle of relay 56 Closing 1 second hold circuit for relay 104 so as to energize hold circuit for relay 122 End of rst second:

Relay 104 lets go, thereby- `Closing energized hold circuit for relay 120,

which Closes energizing circuit for relay 28, which shifts feedback loop from F1 network 16 to F2 network 18 Endof 1'1/2 seconds:

Relay 122 lets go, thus breaking energizing circuit for relay 28 and shifting feedback loop back to F1 network 16. End of 2 seconds:

Relay y66 lets go, thereby breaking hold circuit for master relay 50 and returning all circuits to state of repose.

If rexcitation of sensor contacts 45 is not transitory, Y

and they remain closed:

From end of 2nd second to end of 5th second:

Master relay 50 remains closed, holding transmitter 10 on air with steady F1 signal. End of 5th second:

Thermal time delay relay 56 opens, thereby- De-energizing master relay 50 and returning all circuits to state of repose until thermal time delay relay 56 cools suliiciently so that con-k tactor 58 reeengages contact 54. Following 5th second:

Circuit repeats Fl-FZ-#Fl shifts and on air-0E air cycles at intervals determined by warm-up, cooloff, and re-warm characteristics of thermal time delay relay 56.

It will thus be apparent'that if a second sensor and thermal time delay relay is connected in parallel with sensor 45 and relay 56, and if the second relay has a time delay characteristic of, for example, eight seconds, the central station can determine which of the two sensors has closed lcontacts by recognition of the known time characteristics of the warm-up, cool-olf and re-warm cyclesv i Vof the time delay relays associated with the respective Time delay relays other than of the thermal type may l and contact pairs may be added to the relays for establishing additional power supply circuits and circuits for adjusting the amplitudes of the signals of the networks in the feedback loop so that, in addition to tone differences,

recognizable differences in amplitude of the transmitted tones may be established. Likewise, various types of tone generators, such as reeds or oscillators may be Vused and, if desired, only one tone generator corresponding to F1 generator 16 may be utilized for producing a single tone which will be interrupted for a predetermined period of silence during the interval in which relay 28 is energized.

'The invention is not limited to the details disclosed and described lherein, but is intended to cover all substitutions, modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

II claim:

l. In a condition-responsive signalling'system, a radio v transmitter link and a normallyY open power supply circuit therefor, a condition sensor including a pair of con'- tacts, and tone signal generator means for modulating the transmitter, said generator means including rst and second alternatively closable tone control circuits and an identifiable tone producing device in at least the iirst of said tone control circuits, a tone control relay actuatable between first and second states for alternatively closing said first and second tone control circuits upon energization and de-energiaztion of `a winding thereof, a master relay including a winding, relay power supply circuit means, a cycle-initiating circuit connecting said .sensor and the master relay for closing the relay power supply circuit means through the master relay winding-upon closure of the sensor Icontacts whereby to energize the winding` of the master relay and close the same, contact means on said rmaster relay for closing the transmitter power supply circuit upon closure of the master relay, and slave relay means for cyclically closing and opening the relay power whereby to de-energize the master rel-ay winding after' a predetermined interval during which said sensor contacts remain closed.

3. The combination claimed in clairn 2, said time delay relay being of the thermal type and having a heater, and circuit means including contacts on said master relay for connecting said heater with said relay power supply circuit means upon closure of master relay.

4. 'llhe combination claimed in claim l, and hold circuit means connected to the winding of the master relay for holding the same closed for a predetermined holding interval following initial closure of the sensor contacts.

5. The combination claimed in claim 4, said hold circuit means including a lholding relay having a winding,

a capacitor chargeable for energizing the winding, and contact means on said master relay for establishing a charging circuit connecting the relay power supply circuit means with the capacitor in the open condition of the master relay and for connecting the capacitor across the winding of the holding relay in the closed condition of the master relay whereby to close and hold closed the holding relay during an interval while the capacitor discharges. l

6. The combination claimed in claim 4, and a normally closed time-delay relay in said cycle-initiating circuit whereby to de-energize the master relay after a predeter-mined interval during which said sensor contacts remain closed, the holding interval of the hold circuit being less than the interval of the time-delay relay relay.

7. The combination claimed in claim 1, said slave relay means including 'a first slave relay having a winding and a ii-rst "capacitor, contact means on said master relay for establishing a charging circuit connecting the relay power supply circuit 'means with the -iirst capacitor in the open condition of the master relay and lfor connecting the first capacitor across the iirst slave relay winding in the closed condition lof the master relay whereby to holtd the first slave relay closed while the first capacitor discharges, a `second slave relay having normally open contacts in series with the winding of the tone control relay, a winding and a second capacitor, contact means on said -rst slave relay establishing a changing cincuit ccnnecting the relay power supply circuit means with the second capacitor in the closed condition of the first slave relay and `for connecting the Isecond capacitor across the winding of the second slave relay Iwhen the iirst slave relay cpens, thereby to close the power supply circuit rneans thnough the winding of :the tone control relay and thereby shift the latter from the iirst state to the second state after a predetermined interval during which the rst capacitor discharges, and to maintain said tone control relay in said second state for a predetermined interval during which the second capaci-tor discharges.

8. The combination claimed -in claim 7, and hold circuit rneans connected Ito` the winding of lthe rna-ster relay for holding the same closed for a predetermined holding interval following initial closure of the sensor contacts, the totai of the two intervals dur-ing which the rst and second capacitors discharge through their associated slave relay winding :being less than the holding interval of the hold circuit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,288 Usselrnan Dec. 28, 1948 2,623,991 Fischler Dec. 30, 1952 2,989,621 Barton et al. June 20, 1961 

1. IN A CONDITION-RESPONSIVE SIGNALLING SYSTEM, A RADIO TRANSMITTER LINK AND A NORMALLY OPEN POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT THEREFOR, A CONDITION SENSOR INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONTACTS, AND TONE SIGNAL GENERATOR MEANS FOR MODULATING THE TRANSMITTER, SAID GENERATOR MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND ALTERNATIVELY CLOSABLE TONE CONTROL CIRCUITS AND AN IDENTIFIABLE TONE PRODUCING DEVICE IN AT LEAST THE FIRST OF SAID TONE CONTROL CIRCUITS, A TONE CONTROL RELAY ACTUATABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND STATES FOR ALTERNATIVELY CLOSING SAID FIRST AND SECOND TONE CONTROL CIRCUITS UPON ENERGIZATION AND DE-ENERGIAZTION OF A WINDING THEREOF, A MASTER RELAY INCLUDING A WINDING, RELAY POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT MEANS, A CYCLE-INITIATING CIRCUIT CONNECTING SAID SENSOR AND THE MASTER RELAY FOR CLOSING THE RELAY POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT MEANS THROUGH THE MASTER RELAY WINDING UPON CLOSURE OF THE SENSOR CONTACTS WHEREBY TO ENERGIZE THE WINDING OF THE MASTER RELAY AND CLOSE THE SAME, CONTACT MEANS ON SAID 